Shoulder-strap-retaining device



Sept. 30, 1941. M. BROWN STRAPRETAINING DEVICE S HOU ER Filed N 5 1940INVENTOR 7,20% 2mm .aziorw Patented Sept. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT-orries I 4 snoULnEg sTn a P r:;ammoDEVICE I Morton Brown, New York, N. Yassignor to Strap-'A-Liner Corp., a corporation of New York "ApplicationNovember 5, 1940, Serial No. 364,352

v v2 Claims.

. This invention relates to a shoulder strap,- retaining device forundergarments, and particularly to a device intended for engaging thesuperposed shoulder strapsof several undergarments and holding thestraps together in a neat and orderly manner.

One of the obstacles encountered in connection with womens undergarmentsand particularly with brassires and underslips is the tendency of theshoulder straps on the two garments to separate and spread apart on theshoulders. Various devices have been proposed for engaging the twoshoulder straps and holding them together in properly superposedrelationship. Most of the proposed devices have been in the form ofso-called lingerie clasps and the primary objection to a great many ofthem has been that they were visible through the outer garment by reasonof their projection from the straps which they engaged. In other cases,such clasps were pinned through the straps, soon causing the straps tobecome torn or frayed.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide means forholding the shoulder straps of several garments in superposed rela--tion, without employing bulky, protruding elements and without usingpins or other projections extending through the several shoulder strapsengaged by the device.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the employment of anadjusting buckle or slide, generally similar to that customarilyemployed on the shoulder straps of the ordinary underslip for adjustingthe effective length of the shoulder strap, said buckle or slide beinghowever provided with means for detachably and securely embracing theshoulder strap of another garment, such as a brassiere for example, andmaintaining the shoulder strap of the latter garment in place beneaththe shoulder strap of the slip. By the use of the device the two strapsengaged thereby are held in superposed relationship without producingany protrusion likely to be visible through the outer garment of thewearer, and other advantages readily apparent to those skilled in theart are attained.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, Fig. 1 is a frontelevational view of the shoulder strap of a slip or like undergarment,

with the improved strap-retaining device in position thereon and alsoengaging the shoulder strap of a brassiere or other garment, the latterstrap being disposed behind that of the slip; Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of the device in position on the two shoulder straps, the strapsbeing twisted to disclose the rear of the strap-retainer and show howthe inner, or brassiere strap, is

engaged by the device; Fig. 3 is a front view of the strap-retainingdevice; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. '3, looking inthe direction of the arrows, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional viewthrough the two shoulder straps and the strap-retaining device.

With reference to the drawing, 1 indicates a portion of an undergarment,such as for example, a slip, the same being provided with theconventional shoulder strap extending over the shoulder ofthe wearer andsupporting the garment in the usual manner. The shoulder strap iscomposed of two parts, namely that shown at 2 which is in the form of aloop, and the larger portion 4 which extends over the shoulder and isadjustable as to length through the buckle or slide 5 also constitutingthe strap retainer for the shoulder strap l3 of a brassiere I2 or othergarment worn beneath the slip l.

The loop portion 2 of the shoulder strap of the slip l extends throughthe metallic loop 3 through which the strap portion 4 is also disposed.The length of the strap portion 4 is regulated by looping it through theloop 3 and bringing its end portion upward and around the cross bar 8 ofthe buckle 5 as indicated at IS in Fig. 5.

The buckle or slide 5 consists of a member formed with spaced side bars6 connected by the spaced, integrally formed intermediate cross bars 8and 9 and end bar 1. The bight [5 of strap portion 4 extends aroundcross bar 8 as shown in Fig. 5 and the end l6 of portion 4 extendsbehind the end bar I. The upwardly extending portion 4 of the strapextends in back of the( cross bar 9 and in front of the two inwardlyextending spaced fingers I0 formed at one end of the buckle, saidfingers comprising a split end bar on the buckle.

An opening or mouth II is provided between the ends of the fingers l0through which the shoulder strap l3 of the brassiere 12 may be inserted.When the brassire strap is inserted in place between the two inwardlyextending fingers II] it will be confined between the same andaccordingly will be held directly in back of or beneath the strap 4 andthus prevented from lateral movement or disalignment with respect tosaid strap. When it is desired to free the brassiere strap fromengagement between the two fingers ID, the two overlying straps aretwisted forwardly, as shown in Fig. 2 and the strap H is drawn outthrough the opening or mouth H between the fingers [0.

With the retaining device disclosed, no protrusion of parts is had,since the brassire-strap confining means is formed as part of an elementnormally used upon slip shoulder straps. At the same time, the adjustingbuckle may perform its normal function onthe slip strap and may beadjusted at anytime without requiring its de-' tachment from the slipstrap.

While I have, for example, described the device,

as particularly adapted for use in holding to gether the overlyingshoulderv strapson a slip 1. In combination, a garment provided with a Yshoulder strap, acne-piece buckle secured to strap, a second garmentprovided with a shoulder strap, said buckle having inwardly directed,opposed, spaced fingers extending from one end thereof providing apassageway between the fingers for the entrance of said second strapbetween the spaced fingers, said fingers embracing both straps andholding the same in frictional engagement with each other and insuperimposed alignment.

2. In combination, a garment provided with a shoulder strap, a one-piecebuckle secured to 'said strap, said buckle comprising a plurality ofcross bars over one of which a looped end of said strap is passed, saidstrap being further looped said strap, Is'aid bucklecomprising aplurality of ,cross'bars, to one of. which the end of said strap toprovide forlengthwise adjustme'ntof said upon itself and passing betweencertain of said MORTON BROWN. 5

